Gas filter



Aug. 25, 1921-2.

A. J. BECK 2,294,107

GAS FILTER Filed Feb. 18, 194.1

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Patented Aug. 25., 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS FILTER Albert J. Beck,l Santa Paula, Calif. Application February 1s, 1941, seriaiNo. 379,449 11 claims. (c1. 62-1) i This invention relates to gaslters, and particularly to a type of device for -use with butane or liquid petroleum gas.

At the present time, butane is being used for v, interna-l combustion engines due to the fact that the octane rating is approximately 100, its general cheapness, no likelihood of crank case oil 1 dilution, and no dangerous fumes.

.- The average motor, which has a compression under '75 pounds to the square inch is not adaptable for use with butane, but for such motors as are adaptable sand have a high compression, the butane conversion is oftentimes desirable. Most butane conversions that the inventaris aware of arefairly costly and incorporateA numerous separate devices, such as a ltering system for the liquid, separate sltrlainers, pressure regulators, and a vaporizer. The inventor has found that so many devices are unnecessary when the invention about to be described is utilized, Instead of 4filtering the butane which is in liquid form, it has been Ifound expedient to filter the gas in such ra manner that all non-volatile liquids in the butane as well as solids are removed from This'is accomplished through the meboth ,of which are encased within a housing and thereby form a single unit.l The only other units necessary in addition to the device of the present invention are a pressure regulator unit and the kusual butane or natural gas carburetor. In

certain installations, it is possible to use the carburetor already incorporated with the engine by either removing or fastening the float and its needle valve, as it is obvious that butane gas is dry and, therefore, there would be no use for the float.

An object of the present invention is the-provision of a butane or natural gas lter and heat exchanger so constructedr and arranged that proper vaporization of the liquid butane is assured, together with the removal of all unwanted substances from the, gas prior to passage thereof througha rpressure reduction unit to the car- Iburetor, or directly vt0 the carburetorv in certain instances. By way of example, it may be stated that often two .pressure regulators are incorporated, one prior to conversion of the butane liquid into a gas and for the purpose of regulating the pressure thereof, and a second regula- `terr after the butane has .been converted into gas.

the character stated, which is simple of struc-I ture, economical in 4cost of manufacture, and capable of producing superior results.

Another object is the provision of a device for use with butane and natural gas which is easily installed by any mechanic, has few parts, all parts being readily accessible, and practically no part liable to damage or the likelihood of getting out of order.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association, and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as disclosed in a certain embodiment in the accompanying drawing, de- 'scribed'generally and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing the figure is a vertical sectional ,view of the improved heat exchanger and filter for use with |butane and natural gas.

Referring now with particularity to the drawing, the improved device as an entirety is designated by the numeral I and the same includes a lter casing 2 adapted to enclose lter means 3, a heat exchanger v4 exterior of the lter casing 2, and a housing or shell 5 spacedly surrounding the heat exchanger 4.

The vlter casing 2 is capped at one end 6, the opposite end portion being provided with an annular base 1. 'I'he base is formed with an annular shoulder 8. The shell or housing 5 is openended at 9 rand provided with an integral end piece -at I0. The end 6 of casing 2 externally carries a post II adapted to be passed through an opening I2 of erid piece I0 orf housing 5. The post Il is screw-threaded at I3. In the assemblage, it is intended that a gasket I4 be carried on the shoulder 8 and that foot portion I5 oi housing 5 should bear against said gasket. Thus, when a nut. I6 is upon the threads I3 of post II, a turning of the nut will bring the foot portion I3 into forcible engagement with the gasket I4 and assure a fluid-tight t between'I F the external portion of the shell 5 surrounding the opening I2. Y

The iilter casing 2 is internally threaded at I8 to receive nut I9. Nut I9 has an annular shank 20 to provide a sump or well portion 2l. The nut is provided with a central bore 22 which is threaded atA 23 yand 24. An elongated tube 25 is threaded at one end for engagement with threads 23 and said tube is formed with a series of diametrical bores 26. Surrounding the periphery of the tube 25 and covering the said diametrica! Ibores, is a screen 21. Surrounding the screen 21 is a filter pack 29 formed of any suitable material, such as felt or cotton waste. This filter pack is interposed between disc members 2l and 3U at ends of the filter pacl ,`and surrounding the filter pack is a further screen 3|.

The heat exchanger 4 comprises a spaced series of coils spacedly surrounding the filter casing and substantially intermediate the annular space included between the periphery of the iilter casing 2 and the inner surface of the housing or shell 5. One end of the coil communicates with the interior of the iilter casing while the opposite end is adapted to communicate with the source of butane or natural gas supply. The base 1 is transversely bored at 32 and the inlet end of the coil is formed with a part 43 received within said bore 32 and held in position by weld-v ing, brazing, or by any other suitable means, as

by merely removing the nut. whereupon the filter pack may be moved longitudinally of the filter casing and either renewed or cleaned, and any material in the sump removed.

Inspection of the heat exchanger coils is accomplished by the removal of nut I8 which releases post Il and allows the shell 5 to be separated from the base 1. Thus. all parts of the device are readily accessible and replaceable, as the necessity arises.

It is to be observed that the heated liquid received within the space between the casing 2 and shell 5 tends to heat the Wall of the casing 42. Thus, while vaporization of the butane or natural gas is assured in its passage through the coils of the heat exchanger 4, complete volatilization or gasification is maintained as said gas passes through the lter pack and into tube 25.

I deem it important when the device is in opfor instance illustrated at 34. The opposite end eration, that the interior of the lter casing likeof the coil or the outlet portion thereof is provided with a piece 35 received in a transverse bore 36 at the upper end of the casing 2. The outer surface of the base 1 is enlarged in the zone of the bore 32 and internally screw-threaded at 31 to receive a threaded nipple 39. A pipe 39 through the medium of the customary fitting, communicates with the nipple and likewise with a source of supply for liquid butane or natural gas. A threaded fitting 4l) is in engagement with threads 24 of nut I9 and with a pipe 4I which leads to a suitable carburetor, pressure regulator,I or other device. The top I0 of housing 5 is prof vided with a transverse bore 42, and said top is enlarged at 43 externally of the top and internally screw-threaded at 44 to receive the threaded end of pipe 45. This pipe is adapted to communicate with a source of heat, or with a liquid, such as hot water. The base 1 is provided with a transverse bore 46, and the base externally is enlarged at 41 and internally screw-threaded at 43 to accommodate the threaded end `of a pipe 49; which pipe is an outlet for the heated liquid.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention are as follows:

When the present device is to be used with an internal combustion engine, it is intended that pipes 45 and 49 communicate with the cooling system of said engine. 'I'he pipe 49 may directly communicate with the intake side of the water pump and pipe 45 with the outlet or discharge side of the pump. Thus. the liquid, such as wise be maintained at a temperature, as nonvolatile liquids and solids are assured of being released from the gas and deposited in the sump or well 2|. I have also found that a device of this character functions better and produces superior results over devicesswhich provide separate entities, such as lters interconnected by pipes and leading to some form of vaporizer. By incorporating the heat exchanger with the filter, in a single unit, the vaporized gas has a shorter iiow passage and proper vaporization and filtering is assured.

I claim:

l. In a device of the character disclosed, a housing closed at one end, a shell closed at one end, said shell adapted to spacedly surround the housing, a base piece between the housing and said shell, a post externally carried by the closed end of the housing and extended through the closed end of the shell, and a nut carried by the post and adapted to externally bear against the closed end of the shell for holding the shell against the base.

2. In a device of the character disclosed, a ,tubular housing closed at one end and open at lthe other end, said tubular housing formed with 45, thence filling the space included between lter housing 2 and housing or shell 5, and outwardly through pipe 49 in a continuous ilow. This hot water surrounds the coils of the heat exchanger 4 and causes vaporization of the liquid received therein, with the result that gas is discharged into the filter casing. This gas ows through the lter pack, through the transverse or diametric bores of the tube, thence into pipe 4I. Any foreign material or non-volatile material will immediately drop from the gas by gravity and be received within the sump or well 2| of the nut i9.

Butane, when used in place of gasoline, is supplied in liquid form. As butane vaporizes at a low temperature, slight heating of the coils of the heat exchanger causes ready vaporization of the liquid.

It is evident that the device is readily cleaned and any material received within the sump or Well portion 2l of the nut I9 is easily removed tinternal threads extended inwardly from the open end thereof, a nut for engagement with the threads of the housing. said nut formed with a well portion, a perforated tube carried by said nut, the tube received within said housing, and a lter pack surrounding said perforate tube; and means whereby a gas may be passed into said tubular housing for passage through the iilter pack and into the said perforate tube.

3. A gas filter and heat exchanger for liquid petroleum gas including a lilter housing, an annular .base secured at one end of said housing, a shell spacedly surrounding said housing and engaging said base, a coiled tube surrounding the iilter housing and within the space between the said housing and shell, one end of said tube communicating with the interior of the housing, and the opposite end of said tube secured to the annular base, means whereby a liquid petroleum gas may enter said coiled tube at thev base, means for introducing a hot liquid into the space between said housing and shell for heating the coiled tube to vaporize the liquid petroleum into gas for gas passage into the housing, a perforate tube extending longitudinally of said housing, and a lter pack surrounding said perforate tube and through which pack said gas must pass for entrance within the perforate tube,

'and means for conducting said gas from said perforate tube.

4. In a gas filter and heat exchanger for liquid petroleum gas including a pair of housings spaced apart and concentrically arranged one within the other; a coiled tube between said housings with one end thereof opening within the inner housing, means for introducing a plus temperatured liquid between said housings for contact with the coils of said tube, means for introducing a liquid petroleum into said coiled tube to be gasiiied by heat exchange caused by the plus temperatured liquid heatingsaid coils,

a filter pack spacedly positioned within the inner housing, a perforate tube centrally disposed within said filter pack, and means' fo r conducting any gas 'from-"said perforate tube externally In a gas lter-'and heat exchanger for liquid petroleum gas including a pair of housings spaced aparty and concentrically arranged one within the other; a coiled tube between said housings with one end thereof .opening within the inner housing, means for introducing -a plus tempera-A tured liquid betweensaid housings vfor contact with the coils of said tube, means for introducing a liquid petroleum into said-coiled tube to be gasied by heat exchange cased by' the plus within the Jacket for heating the coil tubes to gasify the liquid petroleum for gas entrance within the filter housing.

8. A vaporizer comprising a housing, a filtering chamber member within said housing. a

vaporizing coil surrounding said filtering chamand a detachable base for closing the lower end temperatured liquid heatingsaid coils, a vfilter pack spacedly positioned within the inner housing, a perforate tube centrally disposed within said lter pack, means for conducting any gas from said perforate tube externally thereof, and

a nut threaded within said innerhousing and carrying said perforate tube.

6. In a gas filter and heat exchanger for liquid petroleum gas including a pairgof housings spaced apart and concentrically, arranged' one within between said housings I with one end thereof opening withinthe inner,

the other; a coiled tube of said shell, a filtering chamber upstanding from said base within said shell, a vstud upstanding from the upper end of said filtering chamber through an yopening in they upper wall of said shell, a nut threaded on the upper end of said stud against the upper wall of said shell for hold'- ing said base in liquid-tight contact with the llower end of said shell, a vaporizingv coil surrounding said ltering chamber with v'one end lleading through said .base and its other end leading into said filtering chamber, meansv for cir.

culating hot water through said housing, an i outlet pipe leading from said filtering housing, and anlter pack surrounding said outlet pipe and in communication therewith'.

[1 0. A vaporizer comprising a housing, said housing includinga shello'pen at its lower end,

[and a Adetachable base for closingthe lower end Aof said shell, a filteringcharnber .upstanding from said vhase within-said shell, la. stud upstanding from the" ,uppergend ofsaid filtering chamber `.-th'rough `an ppening" in the upper wall of said housing, means for introducing a plus vtemperaf.

tured liquid between saidhousings for contact with the coils of said tube, means. for introducing a liquid petroleum into said coiled tube toA be gasified by heat exchangecaused by the plus temperatured liquid heating vsaid coils, a filter leading v through said 'base and its other end` leading into said filtering chamber, means for circulating hot water through said housing, a nut threaded in thflower, end of said filtering champack spacedly positionedr within the inner housi ing, a perforate tube centrally disposed withinv said filter pack, means for conducting any,=gasfrom said perforate tube externally thereof, and a nut threaded within said inner housing andcarrying said perforate tube, said nut formed# with an annular sump for receiving non-volatile liquldsand solids dropped from said gasl upon entrance within the inner housing.

ter housing closed at one end, a nut threadedly. secured to said housing at the opposite end, a perforate tube carried by said nut, a fibrous fil- -ter pack surrounding Athe perforate ltube and spaced from the inner wall of said housing, a jacket spacedly surrounding the filter housing, a coil tube within the space between the jacket and filter housing, one end of the tube communicating with the interior of the filter housing and the opposite end with a source of liquid petroleum, means for introducing a heated liquid 7. In a device of thecha'racter disclosed, a l

shelij-a nut threaded on the upper end of said stud'fagair'ist the upper wall of said shell for holdingv said base in liquid-tight contact with vth'v'e'lo-ijver end of said shell, a vaporizing coil surrounding said filtering chamber with one end ber, .said nut'. .being'providedwith ,a bore ex tending therethrough, an outlet pipe in said illtering chamber ,threaded at its lower'end in said nut, and a filter pack surrounding .said outlet v'pipe and in communication therewith.l

11. A vapjcrizer comprising a housing, a filtering chamber'in said housing, a vaporizing coil surrounding said filtering chamber with its inlet .end leading through the lower end of said hous- Y ing-and. its outlet end leading into the upper end of said filtering chamber, means for circulating hot water through said housing, a nut threaded in the lower end of said filtering chamber, said nut being provided with a bore extending therethrough, an outlet pipe in said filtering chamber threaded at its lower end in said nut, and a lter pack surrounding said outlet pipe and in communication therewith.

ALBERT J. BECK. 

